396 plus COM or GNS x30???

three-eight-hotel wrote:

So I started thinking.... (no wise cracks please) Portable handheld
with the many wis-bang features that it does have (downloadable Wx,
terrain display, etc.) and take the difference and put it towards 2nd
COM and possibly DME (for shooting those DME required approaches)
OR.... Panel mount with built in COM, legal DME and do Wx and terrain
planning the hard way???

I've been thinking, too. My background: I have a partnership in a Mooney that's
just now getting GNS480 IFR GPS capability (it's in the shop right now). I
installed a first-generation (GX50) IFR GPS in a plane I owned previously. I
have experience with 3 handheld GPSs, a Garmin 90, GPSMAP 196, and I just
received my GPSMAP 396 last week.

I'm thinking if I ever went back to sole ownership, it would probably be
something in the 172/Cherokee capability range, and I'd install the GPSMAP 396
panel mounting bracket and get along without the IFR certification. In a plane
of that class, I'd prefer the convenience and capabilities of the 396, with
weather and terrain. Panel mounting would remove the disadvantages of wires
running all over the cockpit, which I detest.

There's a panel mounting bracket for the 396. I guess the idea is you can
*legally* have the bracket permanently installed, although permanent
installation of the 396 itself probably could not be certified.

I think there's a lot of added value to having something like the 396 without
certification. You can do a lot with it when enroute IFR, for a relatively small
investment. The additional investment and capability that comes with IFR enroute
/ terminal / approach certification doesn't have such a good cost/benefit ratio.


Other benefits to the handheld are using it in the car, just watching
Wx at home (for fun), identifying the hot fishing spots on Eagle Lake
and being able to get back to them quickly... ;-)

I plan to use my 396 in the car. It will replace the 196 I use in my car now.
Right now I have the 396 set up in my living room watching hurricane Katrina.

Dave

Dave Butler wrote:


I'm thinking if I ever went back to sole ownership, it would probably be
something in the 172/Cherokee capability range, and I'd install the
GPSMAP 396 panel mounting bracket and get along without the IFR
certification. In a plane of that class, I'd prefer the convenience and
capabilities of the 396, with weather and terrain. Panel mounting would
remove the disadvantages of wires running all over the cockpit, which I
detest.

Just to clarify, are you saying your plane would be IFR certified but
you wouldn't bother with an IFR certified GPS? So you would use
VOR/LOC/DME etc for official IFR flying and the GPS for situational
awareness?

There's a panel mounting bracket for the 396. I guess the idea is you
can *legally* have the bracket permanently installed, although permanent
installation of the 396 itself probably could not be certified.

I read elsewhere (can't remember where) that you also have to be careful
about permanently installing the wires because it starts to cross the line.

I think there's a lot of added value to having something like the 396
without certification. You can do a lot with it when enroute IFR, for a
relatively small investment. The additional investment and capability
that comes with IFR enroute / terminal / approach certification doesn't
have such a good cost/benefit ratio.

That makes sense for today but what about the future? It seems that
the FAA is going in the direction of relying more on GPS approaches and
less on ground based navaids. Also a GPS approach to each end of the
runway obviates the need for a lot of circling approaches. It's
starting to look like more airports will be GPS-only or will have ILS
and to one runway and GPS only to the other Wouldn't that concern you?

Keep in mind that I am only an instrument student, not IFR rated, when I
give these opinions

xyzzy wrote:
Dave Butler wrote:


I'm thinking if I ever went back to sole ownership, it would probably
be something in the 172/Cherokee capability range, and I'd install the
GPSMAP 396 panel mounting bracket and get along without the IFR
certification. In a plane of that class, I'd prefer the convenience
and capabilities of the 396, with weather and terrain. Panel mounting
would remove the disadvantages of wires running all over the cockpit,
which I detest.


Just to clarify, are you saying your plane would be IFR certified but
you wouldn't bother with an IFR certified GPS? So you would use
VOR/LOC/DME etc for official IFR flying and the GPS for situational
awareness?

Yes. Of course this is all just daydreaming. I don't currently own the plane we
are speculating about.


There's a panel mounting bracket for the 396. I guess the idea is you
can *legally* have the bracket permanently installed, although
permanent installation of the 396 itself probably could not be certified.


I read elsewhere (can't remember where) that you also have to be careful
about permanently installing the wires because it starts to cross the line.

Yes, I agree. I don't think the dust has settled on this issue yet.


I think there's a lot of added value to having something like the 396
without certification. You can do a lot with it when enroute IFR, for
a relatively small investment. The additional investment and
capability that comes with IFR enroute / terminal / approach
certification doesn't have such a good cost/benefit ratio.


That makes sense for today but what about the future? It seems that
the FAA is going in the direction of relying more on GPS approaches and
less on ground based navaids. Also a GPS approach to each end of the
runway obviates the need for a lot of circling approaches. It's
starting to look like more airports will be GPS-only or will have ILS
and to one runway and GPS only to the other Wouldn't that concern you?

Yes. This might be a shortsighted suggestion.


Keep in mind that I am only an instrument student, not IFR rated, when I
give these opinions

Your questions and opinions have merit.

Dave